title: Oropharyngeal leech infestation and therapeutic options.
abstract: This is a case report about a rare oropharyngeal foreign body causing oropharyngeal symptoms such as sore throat, dysphagia and hemoptysis. We reported a 7 year-old boy who had ingested a leech from a bottle which had been filled with water and it had attached to the palate within 4 days. The leech was identified as approximately 3 cm in length. Leech was removed under premedication by using monopolar cauterization. Although child infestation by a leech in the upper respiratory tract is very rare, it should be investigated when contaminated liquids are ingested. Electro cauterization should be borne in mind as a therapeutic option in the treatment of leech infestations in the upper respiratory tract under pre-medication in pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Internal Medicine, Medical School, Dumlupınar University, Kütahya, Turkey. fatihoghan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oğhan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güvey
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özkırış
authors.forename: Erim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gülcan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*